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How gaming will influence the construction industry

How gaming will influence the construction industry

By Catherine Sturman.Jul 05, 2016, 3:35AM

The Chartered Institute of Building has developed a construction game which will provide players with relevant skills and supply key knowledge towards processes which could be utilised within a construction role. Amongst increased concerns that over 400,000 UK Construction workers are set to retire between 2018 and 2023, there is a vital need to find ways to attract and engage a younger and impressionable market into the construction industry by developing their knowledge and skills base, alongside an interest within various roles within construction.

The “global games market [is] expected to grow from $91.8 billion in 2015 to a total of $118.6 billion by 2019” (source: UK Interactive Entertainment). ‘Craft your Future’ has been incorporated within the already popular game ‘Minecraft’, which has been purchased over a staggering 18,000,000 times since its original release. The game is aimed at 12-14 year olds, where they encounter real life issues and scenarios within the construction industry, designing, collaborating with others and building effective solutions for potential real-life construction tasks. The game is freely accessible through the Minecraft Education Platform and is popular within educational institutions, of which the lessons are split into four sectors: construction, restoration, maintenance and new build and refurbishment.

Bridget Bartlett, Deputy Chief Executive at the CIOB said: “Combining Minecraft and a thorough curriculum for the teacher makes for a unique and immersive experience and will help reveal why the industry is important and why a career in construction can be so rewarding […] these young learners will not only have fun but also develop their communication, team working and mathematics skills; skills that construction has a high demand for.”

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The construction and management simulation genre of gaming has evolved rapidly within the last 30-40 years. We look at games which have influenced generations and continue to inspire and educate players. Some construction games are now beginning to be incorporated into educational insitutions, highlighting their significance within the industry.

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